8/20/2003
Todd Szegedy
Wins ASB American Classic 150 at Stafford
Stafford Springs, CT -- NASCAR Featherlite Modified
Series points leader Todd Szegedy was the winner of the 13th annual
ASB American Classic 150 at Stafford Motor Speedway that was resumed
from lap-62 on August 19, 2003. Chuck Hossfeld was the Bud Pole winner
for the race with a qualifying time of 18.637 seconds at an average
speed of 96.582 mph.
Ed Flemke quickly took the lead from Hossfeld at the
drop of the green flag, and led every lap of the race until the
caution came out on lap-43 for rain. The race was postponed with
61-laps complete, and Flemke in the lead. Flemke was followed by
Hossfeld, Tony Hirschman, Todd Szegedy, Jerry Marquis, Ted
Christopher, Doug Coby, Charlie Pasteryak, Jamie Tomaino, and Tony
Ferrante, Jr.
Several cars, including Dan Avery, Tom Baldwin, Donny
Lia, Rick Fuller, Ronnie Silk, Nevin George, Chris Kopec, Bob
Polverari, Tommy Cravenho, Rob Summers, and Kevin Konopka came to pit
road for fresh tires as the rain was falling. NASCAR impounded all
competitor's tires, and as the race resumed, the top-16 cars all came
to pit road for fresh tires.
The green flag came out on lap-68 with Dave Etheridge
and Donny Lia making up the front row. Lia quickly went outside
Etheridge to take over the lead at the drop of the green. Lia would
hold the lead until a lap-75 restart, when the car didn't come up to
speed and collected several cars behind him. Rick Fuller was the new
leader on the restart, followed by Nevin George, Etheridge, Tony
Ferrante, Jr., and Chris Kopec.
George slowed on lap-85, which set up a chain reaction
behind him. Fuller continued to lead, but Todd Szegedy was on the
move, and took the lead from Fuller on lap-91. Szegedy, George,
Fuller, Blewett, and Eric Beers made up the top-5 until lap-123, when
Ted Christopher and Chuck Hossfeld got by.
Hossfeld and Christopher battled hard for several laps
bumper to bumper for the 5th spot. On lap-127, contact was made
between the two cars, which sent Christopher into the turn 2 wall, and
brought the caution out.
From the restart, Szegedy checked out from George and
the rest of the field, and looked to be cruising towards his fourth
NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series win of the 2003 season. But Ed
Flemke, Jr. hit the turn 2 wall on lap-145, which brought out the
caution flag, and set up a sprint to the checkered flag.
As strong as Szegedy's car was prior to the final
restart, it was strong once again, and George, Fuller, Hossfeld, and
Blewett were had no chance to catch Szegedy as he took the checkered
flag. George, Fuller, Blewett, and Hossfeld rounded out the top-5.
The NASCAR Featherlite Modified Series returns to
Stafford Motor Speedway on September 26-28, 2003 for the 31st annual
CARQUEST Fall Final Weekend. Tickets for the Fall Final are available
by calling the Stafford Motor Speedway box office at 860-684-2783.
Adult General Admission tickets are $35.00, children ages 6-14 are
$5.00, and children ages 5 & under are free. Reserved seating is
available for $37.50. Tickets cover admission to Saturday, September
27 and Sunday, September 28. Friday, September 26 is a practice
session with grandstands open to the public at no charge.
For more information contact the Stafford Motor
Speedway track office at (860) 684-2783.
Sources: Scott Running/Stafford
Motor Speedway PR
Posted: August 20, 2003
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